I bought a few on eBay Chris, they were labeled as "emergency phones" because, as Bruce said, they work during power failures!

ttubb

07-27-2011, 08:06 PM

X3...I keep one for just that occasion. And have used it several times...T

TIMZTOY

07-27-2011, 08:29 PM

there good for making bombs.
but what good is a phone call if the recivers phone is dead ?

Lars

07-27-2011, 08:35 PM

It works when the power is out.

so does this

Shark Bait

07-27-2011, 10:10 PM

I bought a few on eBay Chris, they were labeled as "emergency phones" because, as Bruce said, they work during power failures!

I'm not sure they'll work if you're using VOIP. :rolleyes:

60wag

07-27-2011, 11:12 PM

So cell antennas have backup power sources?

Actually the cell reception at my house sucks even when the power is on so I'm not dumping the land line any time soon.

corsair23

07-28-2011, 01:06 AM

I'm not sure they'll work if you're using VOIP. :rolleyes:

Only if your provider has battery backup :D

One of the guys I work with had the power go out in his area. He lives on a cul-de-sac and is apparently the only one with a POTS line...The rest all have VoIP or Comcast digital phone lines. Interestingly enough, despite what the other providers told the neighbors their phones didn't work when the power went out...Of course if they were using a cordless phone that might have been the problem...Apparently all of the neighbors ventured down to my co-workers place to call in their repair :hill:

IMO it really depends on where you live whether you benefit from having an old school phone and a POTS line for emergencies. Cell phones are a viable option unless the power is out for a long time and your phone runs out of juice or the cell towers die...If you live in the mountains or areas where cell signals are sketchy or non-existant and you tend to get snowed in, a POTS line can be a life saver. My in-laws were snowed in for a week + with no power etc. The only thing in the house that worked was their phone :)

Air Randy

07-29-2011, 01:44 PM

All of the cell sites I've ever built have battery backup and emergency generators. The batteries are mostly for power filtration and the few minutes between power outage and generators achieving full power. The generators are to keep the air conditioning working, tower lights and to charge the batteries. If its a huge outage, like from a hurricane, the sites will start dropping off after 3 days on average unless the generators can be re-fueled.

nakman

07-29-2011, 10:36 PM

If my phone runs out of juice I'd also be out of gas, which means a solid week without power.. if 4 of those days were without a tower? Would be strange, but OTOH I'd welcome the break. we'd still be able to communicate, bring on the black out. :)